Foldable stroller

ABSTRACT

A foldable stroller comprises a folding mechanism to assist in folding of the stroller. Such a folding mechanism may be used to convert a stroller from an in-use configuration to a storage configuration. More specifically, the stroller comprises a stroller folding assembly that biases the stroller from the in-use configuration to the storage configuration by the force of gravity exerted on the handle. The stroller folding assembly has linkages that drive folding of the front wheel assembly and rear wheel assembly in response to rotation of the handle into the storage configuration from the in-use configuration.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is directed to a folding mechanism for a stroller, singlestroller and double strollers (hereinafter “stroller” or “strollers”).Such a folding mechanism may be used to convert a stroller from anin-use configuration to a storage configuration. More specifically,embodiments of the stroller comprise a stroller folding assembly thatbiases the stroller from the in-use configuration to the storageconfiguration by the force of gravity exerted on the handle. Thestroller folding assembly comprises linkages that drive folding of thefront wheel assembly and rear wheel assembly in response to rotation ofthe handle into the storage configuration from the in-use configuration.

BACKGROUND

A typical stroller has at least a handle assembly for pushing thestroller, a front wheel assembly, and a rear wheel assembly. Manystrollers may be converted from an in-use configuration for carrying ababy or toddler to a folded storage configuration. The folded storageconfiguration may be a more compacted configuration to allow moreconvenient storage or transport of the stroller. Foldable stroller thatincludes a folding and latching mechanism having biasing means thatincreases the ease with which the stroller may be deployed for use andfolded for storage.

Foldable strollers typically have a stroller locking mechanism that hasa locked position and the unlocked position. In the locked position, thestroller is maintained in the in-use configuration. If the strollerlocking mechanism is switched from the locked position to the unlockedposition, the stroller may be moved from the in-use configuration to thestorage configuration.

Once unlocked, the stroller may be moved by various biasing forces. Insome foldable stroller must be forced into the folded configuration by aperson that must exert a driving force on the stroller frame, typicallyon at least two of handle assembly, the front wheel assembly, the rearwheel assembly. The stroller may also be biased to the foldedconfiguration by lifting the stroller and allowing gravity to work onall three of the frame components.

In other embodiment, springs may be incorporated into the foldingassembly to bias the stroller into the folded configuration.

There is a need for a foldable stroller that can be folded using asimple, one-handed operation which releases the latch, folds thestroller frame in a coordinated manner through a folding pivot assemblycomprising linkages that coordinate the folding of the stroller.

There is a further need for a foldable stroller that comprises a foldingpivot assembly that comprises linkages that rotate the front wheelassembly toward the rear wheel assembly and the rear wheel assemblytoward the front wheel assembly as the handle assembly is rotated towardthe rear wheel assembly. There is a still further need for a foldablestroller that comprises a folding pivot assembly that comprises linkagesthat rotate the front wheel assembly toward the rear wheel assembly andthe rear wheel assembly toward the front wheel assembly as the handleassembly is rotated toward the rear wheel assembly by the force ofgravity without lifting the stroller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the foldable strollers described herein, may provide oneor more of the following advantages. According to one embodiment of thepresent invention, a stroller having forwardly extending right and leftside front wheel assemblies with at least one forwardly disposed wheelconnector, rearwardly extending right and left side rear wheelassemblies with rearwardly disposed wheel connectors, and upwardlyextending right and left side handle assemblies terminating in one ormore handles at the upper end are interconnected by right and left sidestroller pivot assemblies to form a collapsible or foldable strollerframe. In some embodiments, the foldable stroller comprises a foldingpivot assembly. In some embodiments, a folding mechanism of the strollercomprises the stroller pivot assembly and the folding pivot assembly.The folding mechanisms allow movement of respective front wheelassembly, rear wheel assembly, and handle assembly as the stroller frameis moved between in-use configuration and the storage configuration andmay provide a locking mechanism to maintain the frame in at least thein-use configuration until selectively released.

Embodiments of the stroller comprise a handle assembly, a front wheelassembly and a rear wheel assembly. The handle assembly may comprise anupper handle member and a lower handle member, wherein the upper handlemember comprises a handle portion for holding and pushing the stroller.

The front wheel assembly may comprise at least one front wheel supporttube and at least one front wheel. Similarly, the rear wheel assemblymay comprise at least one rear wheel support tube at least one rearwheel. In some embodiments, the wheel assemblies will comprise frametubes extending from the stroller pivot assembly to the wheels or wheelconnection assembly. The handle assembly may also comprise frame tubemembers connected to form a handle.

The handle assembly may also comprise a handle pivot assembly, whereinthe handle pivot assembly pivotally connects the upper handle member tothe lower handle member, the upper handle member selectively rotatableabout a handle axis point between an in-use position and a storageposition. The handle pivot assembly comprises a locking assembly thatretains the handle in the in-use position. The locking assembly maycomprise a biased pin in one of the upper handle assembly and the lowerhandle member that is biased into a recess in the other of the upperhandle assembly and the lower handle member. The biased pin may beextracted from the recess by a mechanism in the handle assembly bymovement of a switch or pressing a button, for example.

The stroller pivot assembly coordinates folding of the front wheelassembly, the rear wheel assembly and the handle assembly about astroller folding axis. In an embodiment, the stroller pivot assemblyrotatably connects the lower handle member of the handle assembly, thefront wheel assembly. The handle assembly, the front wheel assembly andthe rear wheel assembly may rotate from a stroller in-use position to astroller storage position. The stroller pivot assembly may furthercomprise a stroller locking assembly having an unlocked position and alocked position that retains the stroller in the stroller in-useposition.

Embodiments of the foldable stroller may comprise a folding pivotassembly that coordinates folding and links the rotation of the frontwheel assembly, rear wheel assembly, and handle assembly so that all ofthe front wheel assembly, rear wheel assembly, and handle assembly movefrom the in-use configuration to the storage configuration at the sametime. Also, in another embodiment, the folding pivot assemblycoordinates unfolding and links front wheel assembly, rear wheelassembly, and handle assembly. In such embodiments, the folding pivotassembly may comprise a handle assembly linkage, a front wheel assemblylinkage, and a rear wheel assembly linkage, wherein rotation of thelower handle member by the force of gravity drives the handle assemblylinkage to rotate the front wheel linkage and the rear wheel linkage torotate the front wheel assembly toward the rear wheel assembly.

In a particular embodiment, the stroller locking assembly comprises arotation of the upper handle member about the handle axis point movesthe stroller locking assembly from the locked position to the unlockedposition. The locking and unlocking of the stroller locking assembly maybe linked to the rotation of the upper handle assembly. For example,forward rotation of the upper handle member moves the stroller lockingassembly from the locked position to the unlocked position allowing thestroller to be folded.

In another embodiment, the foldable stroller may comprise a foldingpivot assembly, wherein the folding pivot assembly comprises a handleassembly linkage, a front wheel assembly linkage, and a rear wheelassembly linkage that cooperate to move the front wheel assembly towardthe rear wheel assembly as the handle assembly is rotated from in-useconfiguration to the storage configuration.

The stroller pivot assembly may comprise an axis, wherein the strollerpivot assembly rotatably connects the handle assembly, the front wheelassembly, the handle assembly to rotate about the axis from an in-useposition to a storage position and the stroller pivot assembly comprisesa stroller locking assembly having an unlocked position and a lockedposition that retains the stroller in the stroller in-use position. Insuch embodiments, the rotation of at least a portion of the handleassembly by the force of gravity drives the handle assembly linkage torotate the front wheel linkage and the rear wheel linkage to rotate thefront wheel assembly toward the rear wheel assembly.

The foldable stroller may further comprise a stroller seat having anarticulated seat frame. The articulated seat frame comprises a backrestassembly and a seat assembly rotatably connected to each other atastroller seat joint. The stroller seat joint allows the backrestassembly to rotate and recline relative to the seat assembly and allowsfolding of the stroller seat from the in-use configuration to thestorage configuration. The folding mechanism may comprise a seat linkagethat drives and coordinates the folding of the articulated seat framewith the front wheel assembly, the rear wheel assembly, and the handleassembly. The seat linkage is configured to rotate the seat assemblysubstantially into alignment with the front wheel support tube. Thearticulated seat frame includes a transverse pivot intermediatelydisposed between the seat frame and backseat frame.

Aspects of the stroller are presented in various embodiments, howeverone skilled in the art will understand various variation andinterchangeability of the components of the various embodiments whichare intended to be included in the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a foldable stroller in the in-useconfiguration;

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of a foldable stroller in the storageconfiguration;

FIG. 3 depicts a stroller comprising a folding pivot assembly comprisinga handle assembly linkage, a front wheel assembly linkage, and a rearwheel assembly linkage;

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a stroller pivot assembly rotatablyconnecting the handle assembly, the front wheel assembly, and the rearwheel assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 depicts a front view of stroller pivot assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of the folding pivot assembly comprising ahandle assembly linkage, a front wheel assembly linkage, a rear wheelassembly linkage, and a seat assembly linkage for coordinating a foldingof the stroller.

DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the foldable strollers described herein, may provide oneor more of the following advantages. According to one embodiment of thepresent invention, a stroller having forwardly extending right and leftside front wheel assemblies with at least one forwardly disposed wheelconnector, rearwardly extending right and left side rear wheelassemblies with rearwardly disposed wheel connectors, and upwardlyextending right and left side handle assemblies terminating in one ormore handles at the upper end are interconnected by right and left sidestroller pivot assemblies to form a collapsible or foldable strollerframe. In some embodiments, the foldable stroller comprises a foldingpivot assembly. In some embodiments, a folding mechanism of the strollercomprises the stroller pivot assembly and the folding pivot assembly.The folding mechanisms allow movement of respective front wheelassembly, rear wheel assembly, and handle assembly as the stroller frameis moved between in-use configuration and the storage configuration andmay provide a locking mechanism to maintain the frame in at least thein-use configuration until selectively released.

Embodiments of the stroller comprise a handle assembly, a front wheelassembly and a rear wheel assembly. The handle assembly may comprise anupper handle member and a lower handle member, wherein the upper handlemember comprises a handle portion for holding and pushing the stroller.

The front wheel assembly may comprise at least one front wheel supporttube and at least one front wheel. Similarly, the rear wheel assemblymay comprise at least one rear wheel support tube at least one rearwheel In some embodiments, the wheel assemblies will comprise frametubes extending from the stroller pivot assembly to the wheels or wheelconnection assembly. The handle assembly may also comprise frame tubemembers connected to form a handle.

The handle assembly may also comprise a handle pivot assembly, whereinthe handle pivot assembly pivotally connects the upper handle member tothe lower handle member, the upper handle member selectively rotatableabout a handle axis point between an in-use position and a storageposition. The handle pivot assembly comprises a locking assembly thatretains the handle in the in-use position. The locking assembly maycomprise a biased pin in one of the upper handle assembly and the lowerhandle member that is biased into a recess in the other of the upperhandle assembly and the lower handle member. The biased pin may beextracted from the recess by a mechanism in the handle assembly bymovement of a switch or pressing a button, for example.

The stroller pivot assembly coordinates folding of the front wheelassembly, the rear wheel assembly and the handle assembly about astroller folding axis. In an embodiment, the stroller pivot assemblyrotatably connects the lower handle member of the handle assembly, thefront wheel assembly. The handle assembly, the front wheel assembly andthe rear wheel assembly may rotate from a stroller in-use position to astroller storage position. The stroller pivot assembly may furthercomprise a stroller locking assembly having an unlocked position and alocked position that retains the stroller in the stroller in-useposition.

Embodiments of the foldable stroller may comprise a folding pivotassembly that coordinates folding and links the rotation of the frontwheel assembly, rear wheel assembly, and handle assembly so that all ofthe front wheel assembly, rear wheel assembly, and handle assembly movefrom the in-use configuration to the storage configuration at the sametime. Also, in another embodiment, the folding pivot assemblycoordinates unfolding and links front wheel assembly, rear wheelassembly, and handle assembly. In such embodiments, the folding pivotassembly may comprise a handle assembly linkage, a front wheel assemblylinkage, and a rear wheel assembly linkage, wherein rotation of thelower handle member by the force of gravity drives the handle assemblylinkage to rotate the front wheel linkage and the rear wheel linkage torotate the front wheel assembly toward the rear wheel assembly.

In a particular embodiment, the stroller locking assembly comprises arotation of the upper handle member about the handle axis point movesthe stroller locking assembly from the locked position to the unlockedposition. The locking and unlocking of the stroller locking assembly maybe linked to the rotation of the upper handle assembly. For example,forward rotation of the upper handle member moves the stroller lockingassembly from the locked position to the unlocked position allowing thestroller to be folded.

In another embodiment, the foldable stroller may comprise a foldingpivot assembly, wherein the folding pivot assembly comprises a handleassembly linkage, a front wheel assembly linkage, and a rear wheelassembly linkage that cooperate to move the front wheel assembly towardthe rear wheel assembly as the handle assembly is rotated from in-useconfiguration to the storage configuration.

The stroller pivot assembly may comprise an axis, wherein the strollerpivot assembly rotatably connects the handle assembly, the front wheelassembly, the handle assembly to rotate about the axis from an in-useposition to a storage position and the stroller pivot assembly comprisesa stroller locking assembly having an unlocked position and a lockedposition that retains the stroller in the stroller in-use position. Insuch embodiments, the rotation of at least a portion of the handleassembly by the force of gravity drives the handle assembly linkage torotate the front wheel linkage and the rear wheel linkage to rotate thefront wheel assembly toward the rear wheel assembly.

The foldable stroller may further comprise a stroller seat having anarticulated seat frame. The articulated seat frame comprises a backrestassembly and a seat assembly rotatably connected to each other at astroller seat joint. The stroller seat joint allows the backrestassembly to rotate and recline relative to the seat assembly and allowsfolding of the stroller seat from the in-use configuration to thestorage configuration. The folding mechanism may comprise a seat linkagethat drives and coordinates the folding of the articulated seat framewith the front wheel assembly, the rear wheel assembly, and the handleassembly. The seat linkage is configured to rotate the seat assemblysubstantially into alignment with the front wheel support tube. Thearticulated seat frame includes a transverse pivot intermediatelydisposed between the seat frame and backseat frame.

A side view of an embodiment a foldable stroller 1 in the in-useconfiguration is shown in FIG. 1. As a note, FIG. 1 shows only one sideof the foldable stroller 1, however, most components include acomplementary component on the other side of the single stroller but arenot necessarily shown in FIG. 1. The foldable stroller 1 comprises aframe 11 that supports stroller seat 8. The frame 11 may, optionally,include at least one, preferably two, folding mechanism 12 that allowsthe stroller 1 to be folded to a more convenient size for storing ortransporting the stroller 1.

In this embodiment, the stroller seat 8 is shown as a typical strollerseat, however, other types of seats may be connected to the stroller 1.The stroller seat 8 may be permanently affixed to the frame 11 orreleasably connected such that it is capable of being removed andsubstituted with a different seat. As used herein, “releasablyconnected” or “releasably attached” means the connection is not apermanent connection and that the connection is capable being ofconnected and disconnected by the user of the stroller without requiringspecial tools or special skills. Releasable connections include, but arenot limited to, buttons, snaps, friction fittings, interference fits,threaded connections, locking tabs, keyed connections, other fasteners,or the like. On stroller 1 of FIG. 1, the frame 11 is supported on apair of rear wheels 41 and a pair of front wheels 31. In thisembodiment, rear wheels 41 are fixed and do not swivel or pivot on theframe. The pair of front wheels 31 on the foldable stroller 1 pivot tomake turning the foldable stroller 1 easier and more convenient. Though,pivoting wheels may be preferred in certain strollers, strollers withfixed non-pivoting wheels are also common. It should be noted that asingle stroller does not require pairs of front or rear wheels andeither the front wheels 31 or the rear wheels 41 may be substituted witha single wheel. Conventionally, many single strollers, includingumbrella strollers, jogging strollers, all-terrain strollers, as well asother strollers may only include one front wheel. Embodiments of thefolding mechanism, assemblies and linkages may be capable of beingutilized on any stroller or other foldable device.

The embodiment of the foldable stroller 1 of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2in the folded storage configuration. The stroller 1 comprises a frameassembly 11. The stroller 1 comprises a canopy, under seat basket, andfabric covering the seat frame. The embodiment of the stroller 1 hasforwardly extending front wheel assembly 3 with at least one forwardlydisposed wheel connector, rearwardly extending rear wheel assembly 4with rearwardly disposed wheel connectors, and upwardly extending handleassembly 2 having a handle portion 23 at the upper end of the handle.The stroller 1 has a stroller pivot assembly 6 that rotatably connectsthe handle assembly 2, the front wheel assembly 3, and the rear wheelassembly 4 such that the handle assembly 2, the front wheel assembly 3,and the rear wheel assembly 4 pivot around handle axis point HA.

The right and left side stroller pivot assemblies 6 coordinaterotational movement so the stroller 1 may be folded from the in-useconfiguration to the storage configuration. In some embodiments, thestroller 1 comprises folding mechanism having a folding pivot assembly7. The folding mechanisms allow movement of respective front wheelassembly 3, rear wheel assembly 4, and handle assembly 2 as the strollerframe 11 is moved between in-use configuration and the storageconfiguration and may provide a locking mechanism to maintain the framein at least the in-use configuration until selectively released.

Embodiments of the stroller 1 comprise a handle assembly. The handleassembly 2 may comprise an upper handle member 21 and a lower handlemember 22, wherein the upper handle member 22 comprises a handle portion23 for holding and pushing the stroller.

The front wheel assembly may comprise at least one front wheel supporttube and at least one front wheel. Similarly, the rear wheel assemblymay comprise at least one rear wheel support tube at least one rearwheel. In some embodiments, the wheel assemblies will comprise frametubes extending from the stroller pivot assembly to the wheels or wheelconnection assembly. The handle assembly may also comprise frame tubemembers connected to form a handle.

The handle assembly may also comprise a handle pivot assembly, whereinthe handle pivot assembly pivotally connects the upper handle member tothe lower handle member, the upper handle member selectively rotatableabout a handle axis point between an in-use position and a storageposition. The handle pivot assembly comprises a locking assembly thatretains the handle in the in-use position. The locking assembly maycomprise a biased pin in one of the upper handle assembly and the lowerhandle member that is biased into a recess in the other of the upperhandle assembly and the lower handle member. The biased pin may beextracted from the recess by a mechanism in the handle assembly bymovement of a switch or pressing a button, for example.

The stroller pivot assembly coordinates folding of the front wheelassembly, the rear wheel assembly and the handle assembly about astroller folding axis. In an embodiment, the stroller pivot assemblyrotatably connects the lower handle member of the handle assembly, thefront wheel assembly. The handle assembly, the front wheel assembly andthe rear wheel assembly may rotate from a stroller in-use position to astroller storage position. The stroller pivot assembly may furthercomprise a stroller locking assembly having an unlocked position and alocked position that retains the stroller in the stroller in-useposition.

Embodiments of the foldable stroller may comprise a folding pivotassembly that coordinates folding and links the rotation of the frontwheel assembly, rear wheel assembly, and handle assembly so that all ofthe front wheel assembly, rear wheel assembly, and handle assembly movefrom the in-use configuration to the storage configuration at the sametime. Also, in another embodiment, the folding pivot assemblycoordinates unfolding and links front wheel assembly, rear wheelassembly, and handle assembly. In such embodiments, the folding pivotassembly may comprise a handle assembly linkage, a front wheel assemblylinkage, and a rear wheel assembly linkage, wherein rotation of thelower handle member by the force of gravity drives the handle assemblylinkage to rotate the front wheel linkage and the rear wheel linkage torotate the front wheel assembly toward the rear wheel assembly.

In a particular embodiment, the stroller locking assembly comprises arotation of the upper handle member about the handle axis point movesthe stroller locking assembly from the locked position to the unlockedposition. The locking and unlocking of the stroller locking assembly maybe linked to the rotation of the upper handle assembly. For example,forward rotation of the upper handle member moves the stroller lockingassembly from the locked position to the unlocked position allowing thestroller to be folded.

In another embodiment, the foldable stroller may comprise a foldingpivot assembly, wherein the folding pivot assembly comprises a handleassembly linkage, a front wheel assembly linkage, and a rear wheelassembly linkage that cooperate to move the front wheel assembly towardthe rear wheel assembly as the handle assembly is rotated from in-useconfiguration to the storage configuration.

The stroller pivot assembly may comprise an axis, wherein the strollerpivot assembly rotatably connects the handle assembly, the front wheelassembly, the handle assembly to rotate about the axis from an in-useposition to a storage position and the stroller pivot assembly comprisesa stroller locking assembly having an unlocked position and a lockedposition that retains the stroller in the stroller in-use position. Insuch embodiments, the rotation of at least a portion of the handleassembly by the force of gravity drives the handle assembly linkage torotate the front wheel linkage and the rear wheel linkage to rotate thefront wheel assembly toward the rear wheel assembly.

The foldable stroller may further comprise a stroller seat having anarticulated seat frame. The articulated seat frame comprises a backrestassembly and a seat assembly rotatably connected to each other at astroller seat joint. The stroller seat joint allows the backrestassembly to rotate and recline relative to the seat assembly and allowsfolding of the stroller seat from the in-use configuration to thestorage configuration. The folding mechanism may comprise a seat linkagethat drives and coordinates the folding of the articulated seat framewith the front wheel assembly, the rear wheel assembly, and the handleassembly. The seat linkage is configured to rotate the seat assemblysubstantially into alignment with the front wheel support tube. Thearticulated seat frame includes a transverse pivot intermediatelydisposed between the seat frame and backseat frame.

The frame comprises support frame tubes. The stroller 1 may furthercomprise a handle pivot assembly 5, wherein the handle pivot assembly 5pivotally connects the upper handle member 21 to the lower handleassembly 22, the upper handle member 22 may be selectively rotatableabout a handle axis point HA between an in-use position and a storageposition, and handle pivot assembly 5 comprises a locking assembly 51that retains the handle assembly 2 in the in-use position.

The stroller a stroller pivot assembly 6, wherein the stroller pivotassembly rotatably connects the lower handle member 22 of the handleassembly 2, the front wheel assembly 3, and the rear wheel assembly 4such that may rotate from the in-use position to a stroller storageposition. The stroller pivot assembly 6 may comprise a stroller lockingassembly 62 having an unlocked position and a locked position, whereinthe stroller pivot assembly 6 in the locked position retains thestroller in the stroller in-use position.

In embodiments of the stroller 1, forward rotation of the upper handlemember 21 causes the stroller locking assembly 62 to move from thelocked position to the unlocked position resulting in folding of thestroller 1 from the in-use configuration to the storage configuration.In one embodiment, a release wire may be attached to the upper handlemember 22 and extend down a tube in the lower handle member 22 to thestroller locking assembly 62. Rotation of the upper handle member 22causes the release wire to be pulled though the lower handle member 22and to release the stroller locking assembly 62 by pulling a pin, forexample.

Once the stroller locking assembly 62 is unlocked, the weight of thehandle assembly results in clockwise rotation of the handle assembly (asseen from the angle of FIG. 1) and results in a coordinated movement ofthe linkages in the folding pivot assembly 7. An embodiment of thefolding pivot assembly 7 comprises a handle assembly linkage 71.connected to the handle assembly; a rear wheel assembly linkage 73connected to the handle assembly linkage 71, the rear wheel assembly 4,and the front wheel assembly linkage 72; a front wheel assembly linkage72 connected between the rear wheel assembly linkage 73 and the frontwheel assembly 3.

Thus, in an embodiment of the stroller, rotation of the handle assembly2 by the force of gravity drives the folding pivot assembly 7 tocoordinate folding of the front wheel assembly 3 and the rear wheelassembly 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the handle assemblylinkage 71 drops with the handle assembly 2, the handle assembly linkage71 drives the rear wheel assembly linkage 73 to rotate about the rearwheel pivot axis PR. As the rear wheel assembly linkage 73 connected tothe handle assembly linkage 71 rotates counterclockwise (as seen in FIG.6) the other end of the rear wheel assembly linage 73 drives pivot pointPA upward and reducing the distance between rear wheel assembly pivotpoint PR and front wheel assembly pivot point PF, thus urging frontwheel assembly 3 toward the rear wheel assembly 4 from the in-useconfiguration to the storage configuration. In the embodiment, the rearwheel assembly linkage 73 comprises an L-shaped portion. The L-shapedportion may provide leverage for the rear wheel assembly linkage 73 torotate the front wheel assembly linkage 72.

The rear wheel assembly 4 and the front wheel assembly 3 are rotatedtoward each other by the folding pivot assembly 7 with the front wheeland the rear wheel are resting on a rolling surface. The front wheelassembly 3 and the rear wheel assembly 2 are driven into the storageconfiguration by the weight of the handle assembly and the forcetransmitted through the folding pivot assembly 7. The weight of thehandle assembly 2 is sufficient to fold the stroller 1 through thelinkages without lifting the stroller. In fact, in some embodiments, thehandle portion 23 may be released after the stroller pivot lockingassembly 61 is moved to the unlocked position and the lower handlemember 22 begins to rotate in the clockwise direction by the force ofgravity.

The lower handle member 22 of the handle assembly 2, the front wheelassembly 3, and the rear wheel assembly 4 each comprise a frame tubethat is connected to the stroller pivot assembly as shown in FIG. 4. Inorder for the storage configuration of the stroller 1 to be more compactconfiguration in the width dimension, the longitudinal centerline of atleast one of the tubes that are connected to the stroller pivot assembly6 may be offset from the folding pivot axis FA. In one embodiment asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a longitudinal center line CL of the front wheelassembly 3. In this embodiment, the longitudinal centerlines of thehandle assembly 2 and the rear wheel assembly 4 intersect at the foldingpivot axis. In this embodiment, all of the handle assembly 2, the frontwheel assembly 3, and the rear wheel assembly 4 all rotate about thesame axis such as the folding pivot axis FA.

Embodiments of the stroller comprise a stroller seat 8. In certainembodiments, the folding pivot assembly 7 may further comprise astroller seat assembly linkage 74. The stroller seat assembly linkage 74may be rotatably connected to at least one of the front wheel assemblylinkage 72 and the rear wheel assembly linkage 73. In the embodiment ofthe stroller 1 shown in the figures, the stroller seat 82 has a frontseat portion 82F and a rear seat portion 82R. The stroller seat assemblylinkage 74 is rotatably connected to the rear seat portion 82R. As thehandle assembly 2 is rotated clockwise, the rear wheel assembly linkageis rotated about the rear wheel assembly pivot axis PR, one end of thestroller seat assembly linkage 74 is raised and aligns the stroller seatpivot axis PS closer to the handle assembly 2. The articulated seatbackrest 81 may then be folded to align with the tube of the lowerhandle member 22. The stroller seat assembly linkage 74 may comprise anL-shaped portion as shown in FIG. 6.

The stroller seat assembly linkage 74 is rotatably connected to the rearportion 82R of stroller seat 82 to properly rotate the stroller seat 82from its folded position to its in-use position.

In embodiments, rotation of the upper handle member 22 about the handleaxis point PH moves the stroller locking assembly 61 from the lockedposition to the unlocked position. The rotation of the upper handlemember 22 may pull a release wire or release rod inside a tube of thelower handle member 21 to move the stroller locking assembly 22 from thelocked position to the unlocked position, thus releasing the lowerhandle assembly 21 to be biased by gravity and activate the foldingpivot assembly 7 to fold the stroller to the storage configuration. Thehandle assembly linkage 71 is rotatably connected to lower handle member21 and thus move with the lower handle member when the stroller lockingassembly 61 is unlocked. The force of gravity is not assisted orenhanced by mechanical biasing force such as by a spring or othermechanical biasing member. Further, the leverage provided by the foldingpivot assembly 7 on the front wheel assembly 3 and the rear wheelassembly 4 is sufficient to move the stroller to the folded storageconfiguration without lifting either the front or rear wheels off thesupport surface. The support surface is any surface that the strollerhad been rolling upon such as but not limited to a floor, sidewalk, orparking lot, for example.

The stroller may further comprise a belly bar. In such embodiments, abelly bar attachment may be connected to the lower handle member. Thebelly bar is rotated in a position to be a carrying handle for thestroller 1 in its storage configuration as shown in FIG. 2.

As described, embodiments of the stroller may comprise a handleassembly; a front wheel assembly, wherein the front wheel assemblycomprises at least one front wheel; a rear wheel assembly, wherein therear wheel assembly comprises at least one rear wheel; and a foldingpivot assembly, wherein the folding pivot assembly that cooperates tomove the front wheel assembly toward the rear wheel assembly as thehandle assembly is rotated from the in-use position to the storageposition. The folding pivot assembly may comprise a handle assemblylinkage, a front wheel assembly linkage, and a rear wheel assemblylinkage. The stroller pivot assembly comprises a folding axis, whereinthe stroller pivot assembly rotatably connects the handle assembly, thefront wheel assembly, the handle assembly to rotate about the foldingaxis from an in-use position to a storage position and the strollerpivot assembly comprises a stroller locking assembly having an unlockedposition and a locked position that retains the stroller in the strollerin-use position.

As used herein, “L-shaped” includes V-shaped, V-shaped where one leg islonger than the other leg, a curved shape similar to a J-shape or aU-shape, and similar shapes.

The embodiments of the described stroller and methods are not limited tothe embodiments, components, method steps, and materials disclosedherein as such components, process steps, and materials ray vary.Moreover, the terminology employed herein is used to describingexemplary embodiments only and the terminology is not intended to belimiting since the scope of the various embodiments of the presentinvention will be limited only by the appended claims and equivalentsthereof.

Therefore, while embodiments of the invention are described withreference to exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art willunderstand that variations and modifications can be affected within thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly,the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention should notbe limited to the above discussed embodiments and should only he definedby the following claims and all equivalents.

1.-19. (canceled)
 20. A stroller, comprising: a handle assembly, a frontwheel assembly; wherein the front wheel assembly comprises at least onefront wheel; a rear wheel assembly; wherein the rear wheel assemblycomprises at least one rear wheel; an articulated stroller seatcomprising a seat backrest and a stroller seat rotatably connected at astroller seat pivot axis; a stroller pivot assembly, wherein thestroller pivot assembly rotatably connects the handle assembly, thefront wheel assembly, rear wheel assembly, the front wheel assembly andthe rear wheel assembly may rotate from an stroller in-use position to astroller storage position; and a folding pivot assembly, wherein thefolding pivot assembly comprises a handle assembly linkage rotatablyconnected to the handle assembly, a front wheel assembly linkage, a rearwheel assembly linkage, and a stroller seat assembly linkage rotatablyconnected to the stroller seat pivot axis, wherein rotation of thehandle assembly by the force of gravity drives the handle assemblylinkage to rotate the front wheel linkage and the rear wheel linkage torotate the front wheel assembly toward the rear wheel assembly.
 21. Thestroller of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly linkage is rotatablyconnected to the rear wheel assembly linkage and the rear wheel assemblyand the rear wheel assemble linkage is pivotally connected to the rearwheel assembly.
 22. The stroller of claim 21, wherein the rear wheelassembly linkage is rotatably connected to front wheel assembly linkage.23. The stroller of claim 22, wherein the rear wheel assembly linkagehas an L-shaped portion.
 24. The stroller of claim 23, wherein the rearwheel assembly linkage is an L-shaped linkage.
 25. The stroller of claim22, wherein the stroller seat assembly linkage is rotatably connected toat least one of the front wheel assembly linkage and the rear wheelassembly linkage.
 26. The stroller of claim 25, wherein the strollerseat assembly linkage comprises an L-shaped portion.
 26. The stroller ofclaim 20, wherein the stroller is biased from the in-use position to thestorage position by the force of gravity on the handle assembly.
 27. Thestroller of claim 26, wherein the force of gravity is not assisted orenhanced by mechanical biasing force.